Device for coating multiple strand yarns



March 3, 1959 M. S. ROBINSON DEVICE FOR COATING MULTIPLE STRAND YARNS Filed Dec. 17, 1956 I I INVENTOR. %dia fl Qwl/mm fladd {Jazz/0 0.6

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-z,s15,'12"7 DEVICE FOR COATING lvrtfnma srnmn YARNS Miles S. Robinson, Manmee, Qh io,;.assignpr to .L-O-F Glass Fibers Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December -17, 1 956,-serialzwouoflfi tfi 2Clainis. (Cline-46s This invention relates broadly to the forming of continuous strands from materials which are capable of being drawn into 'fibers, such as for example glass, and

v moreparticularly to an-iiriproved device for applying a coating material-to the-strands',.-prior to being vgathered into a multiple strand yarn.

A conventional method of producing multiple "strand yarrisis to apply a lubricant and/or-siz'ing material to a plurality of glass fiber strands and then gather them together by drawing the strands through a groove in a guide wheel orstationaryrpad at 'avery whigh rate of speed. The multiple strand yarn .thus formed is then wound into a package on a rapidly rotating spool.

stated above, prior-to-the foi'niat-ion of the yarn itcustomary to apply-a-lubricaiitafid/or a sizing inatei'ial tothestrands for binding them togethr; The application of a lubricantisespecially important where the strands are formed of glass fibers since the lubricant reduces the inter-abrasive forces of the strands during the formation of the yarn. This frictional or abrasive force between the strands is substantial, since in the formation of the yarn the rotating spools on which the yarn is wound pull the strands at a very high velocity, i. e. in the neighborhood of 2,000 to 5,000 feet per minute. A sizing material is applied to the strands not only to bind them together, but also because of some special quality that it is desired to impart to the finished strands. For example, some binding materials are used because they possess electrical insulative properties, whereas other materials are used because of their moisture resistant quality.

It is customary for the application of the sizing material to be effected by rollers driven by small electric motors. These rollers receive the sizing liquid from a trough or other suitable receptacle and apply it to the strands as they are drawn over the rollers. In general, the greater the speed of the roller the more liquid is applied to the strands. This method of application not only involves a high initial expense for rollers, electric motors and the drive mechanism, but there are also maintenance costs for replacement and repair of the motors and rollers. Additionally, in the application of a coating liquid by a rotating roller there is a tendency for the roller to throw or spatter the liquid beyond the strands and into the surrounding work area, which is obviously an undesirable condition.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel device for the coating of strands which requires relatively less maintenance than coating devices heretofore employed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device including a wiping member which, by a simple positioning adjustment, can be made effective to apply different amounts of the coating liquid to the strands.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the rcourse of the follow- 2,875,727 Patented Mar, 3, .1959

2 ing description .when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to. designatelike parts throughout the same:

Fig. l is a perspective viewof a strand coating device according to the present invention, shown in operative position for coatingsstrands which are being formed into a multiple strand yarn;

Fig. '2 is a side view of the strand coating device, partially in section; v

Fig'. 3 is a front elevation of the strand coating device; and

Fig.4 is a plan view ofthe strand coating device.

Although the invention is illustrated and will be described in connection with the coatingof strands made from glass .fibers. witha lubricant and/or sizing material it is to be understood that the inventionmay also be used for coating strands made from various types of fibers, for example, rayon or cellulose acetate,

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a .pluralityof strand packages 10 of glass fibers. The continuous strands 11 are drawn from the packages 10 through openings inguide bars 12, between spaced positioning pins 1 3,.through knockolf guides 14,and then "gathered together by a grooved guide wheel 15 to forrna multiple strandyarn 16 which is wound on asp'ool 17 into a package. The spool 17 is carried-by a rapidly rotating shaft 18 provided with rotative'motion by pulley*1'9 which is driven bydrive belt 20 throughthe actionof'a motor (not shown).

"Positioned at a point between the knockofi guides '14 and the guide wheel 15 is the improved coating device of this invention, indicated generally by the numeral 21. This device, which applies a coating to the strands 11, includes a receptacle 22 for the coating material which preferably is in the form of a liquid 23. The receptacle 22 is secured to a suitable supporting means by bracket Secured to the wall of the receptacle is an upwardly extending support member 25 and spaced slightly inwardly from the upper extremity thereof is a vertical slot 26. Carried by the support member 25 is a support arm 27 comprising a forwardly and upwardly extending portion a terminating at its upper end in a horizontal portion b, the portion a being provided with a head 0 secured to support member 25 by a bolt 28 inserted through slot 26 and having threaded thereon a nut 29.

A wiping member 30 preferably in the form of a strip-like pad of absorbent material, is slipped over the horizontal portion 12 of the support arm 27. The wiping member is arranged with its lower end being re ceived in the coating liquid while its upper part is in contact with the strands. The pad may beof felt or any other suitable material which is capable of absorbing the coating liquid 23.

As shown in Fig. 2 the support arm 27 holds a portion of the pad upwardly and outwardly away from the receptacle 22 While another portion of the pad is immersed in the coating liquid 23. Thus, with one part of the pad resting in the liquid 23, the pad will remain saturated because of capillary action bringing the liquid to all parts of the pad. The amount of liquid which is applied to the strands in this way, using a particular pad, is dependent on the viscous nature of the coating liquid and the height of the wiping portion of the pad above the surface of the liquid, which height is designated by the distance d. That is, the greater the distance d the less fluid will be applied to the strands with a given liquid. Also by maintaining the distance d constant the more viscous a liquid is and the less material will be applied to the strands.

' pad 30 becomes completely worn, and it is necessary to replace it with a new one, this change may be accomplished very quickly by simply lifting the old pad off the supporting arm 27 and placing a new one thereon, the complete change involving a matter of seconds. This is a decided advantage over the prior use of roller applicators since when a roller became too worn for further use it was necessary to shut down the yarn production while the roller was being replaced, which down-time is considerably longer than that required to replace a pad of the present invention.

It is to' be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device for applying a coating material to moving strands, comprising a receptacle for the coating material, a support member carried by the receptacle and extending upwardly therefrom, a support arm carried by said support member and having a substantially horizontal portion, a Wiping member in the form of a relatively wide pad of absorbent material removably carried by the horizontal portion of said support arm and having a portion thereof received in the coating liquid, means for mounting the receptacle to position the wiping member in the path of the moving strands, and means for securing said support arm to said support member for vertical adjustment relative thereto to raise or lower the horizontal portion of said support arm and the strand contacting portion of the wiping member relative to the coating material in said receptacle.

2. A device for applying a coating material to moving strands, comprising a receptacle for the coating material, a support member carried by the receptacle and extend ing upwardly therefrom having a vertical slot therein, a support carried by said support member and having a forwardly and upwardly extending portion the extremity of which is a substantially horizontal portion, a wiping member in the form of a relatively wide pad of absorpent material removably carried by said support arm and having a portion thereof received in thevcoating liquid, means for mounting the receptacle to position the wiping member in the path of the moving strands, and means carried by said support arm and received in the vertical slot in said support member for securing said support arm to the support member for vertical adjustment relative thereto to raise or lower the horizontal portion of said support arm and the strand contacting portion of said wiping member relative to the coating material in said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,769,250 Arvidson July 1, 1930 2,022,854 Greenwood Dec. 3, 1935' 2,120,110 Morrell June 7, 1938 2,201,803 Todd May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2375,72? M 39 959 Miles So Robinson It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line '71 after "liquid is" strike out "and"; column .4 line l3 after "support", first occurrence, insert we arm o Signed and sealed this 28th day of July 1959n (SEAL) Attest:

KARL AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

